Studies on physico-chemical characteristics of pomegranate cultivars grownunder arid conditions

Different pomegranate cultivars, grown successfully under arid conditions, were evaluated with respect to their physico-chemical characteristics. II r evealed that inter-varietal differences were highly significant for most of the physical parameters such as weight of fruits (g) and contents (%) of j uice, aril, rind, and seed. The fruit cracking was quite high in cv. Jodhpu r Red. whereas it was least in cv. Jalore seedless. A high juice content (f ruit weight basis), ranging from 40.8 to 52.7%, was recorded in various cul tivars. in general, all the cultivars were found to contain high fraction o f reducing sugar as a part of total sugar. The acidity in terms of citric a cid was quite high (1.78%) in cv. Basin seedless, and least (0.189%) in cv. Jodhpur Red.